Golf Club Swing Aid and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

Described is a golf club swing aid and method of use. The golf club includes an elongated shaft having a handle on a first end, and having a weighted attachment permanently secured to a second end. The weighted attachment is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a hollow bore at least partially therethrough and in which the second end of the elongated shaft is secured. Several golf club swing aids having weighted attachments of different weights can be used to help a golfer increase his or her swing speed. A first weighted attachment is the same weight as a traditional driver, a second weighted attachment is heavier than a traditional driver, and a third weighted attachment is lighter than a traditional driver. In this way, the golfer can practice swinging with golf club swing aids of different weight in order to improve his or her golf club swing speed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/840,249 filed on Jun. 27, 2013, entitled “Power Golf System.” Theabove identified patent application is herein incorporated by referencein its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to golf club accessories. Morespecifically, the present invention provides a golf club swing aidhaving a weighted attachment thereon. The golf club swing aid comprisesan elongated shaft with a handle on one end and a weighted attachment onthe other end. The weighted attachment comprises a cylindrical rodhaving a hollow interior adapted to be secured to the end of theelongated shaft of the golf club swing aid. The weighted attachment maybe the same weight as a standard driver head, or may be slightly heavieror lighter than a standard driver head.

Many golfers desire to increase their swing speed so as to improve theirgolfing abilities. By swinging at an increased speed, the golfer is ableto hit the ball a farther distance. However, it may be difficult for agolfer to increase his or her swing speed simply by practicing swinginghis or her driver. Further, while trying to increase the golfer's swingspeed, the golfer must maintain his or her technique in order tomaintain accuracy.

One way to increase a golfer's swing speed is to practice swingingweighted golf clubs. After practicing swinging a heavy golf club, theuser can return to using a conventional golf club, and the conventionalgolf club will feel relatively light. In this way, the user may be ableto swing the conventional golf club faster than he or she was previouslyable to accomplish.

However, golfers may detrimentally affect their technique by usingweighted golf clubs wherein the weight of the club is disposed along thelength of the shaft. Adding weight to the shaft of the golf club changesthe weight distribution of the golf club. Typically, most of a golfclub's weight is in the golf club head, whereas with the weighted shaft,the weight is shifted onto the club shaft. Thus, the user mayunknowingly adjust his or her swing path and overall technique tocompensate for the different weight distribution of the weighted club.

Further, using a weighted club that is too heavy may negatively impactthe golfer's performance. If the golf club is too heavy, the golfer'sswing speed may decrease as result of the increased weight of the golfclub. Thus, while a weighted club may help a user to generate club headspeed and improve swing speed, an overly heavy golf club may hinder thegolfer's performance.

The present invention discloses a golf club swing aid. The golf clubcomprises an elongated shaft having a first end on which a handle isdisposed, and a second end on which a weighted attachment is permanentlyattached. The weighted attachment comprises a cylindrical rod having ahollow interior and an open upper end adapted to receive the second endof the elongated shaft. A user can practice his or her swing in order toincrease his or her swing speed by practicing swinging the golf clubswing aids of the present invention. A first golf club swing aidincludes a weighted attachment that is the same weight as a conventionaldriver. The cylindrical shape of the weighted attachment, however,reduces drag and allows a user to swing the golf club swing aid fasterthan he or she would be able to swing a conventional golf club of thesame weight. A second golf club swing aid includes a weighted attachmentthat is heavier than a conventional driver, and allows the golfer topractice swinging with a heavier club. A third golf club swing aidincludes a weighted attachment that is lighter than a conventionaldriver so that the golfer can practice swinging the club very quickly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to golf clubsadapted to improve swing speed. These include devices that have beenpatented and published in patent application publications. These devicesgenerally relate to golf clubs constructed to improve the golfer's swingspeed. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to thepresent disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes ofhighlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the presentinvention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the priorart.

One such prior art device is U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,295 to Gutierrez, whichdiscloses a training golf club having a hollow shaft with an opening onan end thereof. One or more weights can be inserted into the hollowshaft through the opening. The weights have a length similar to thelength of the shaft. Various club heads may be positioned on the secondend of the shaft to allow a user to hit golf balls using various clubheads. Thus, Gutierrez discloses a weighted golf club wherein the userinserts weights into the interior of the shaft, which creates a weightdistribution that differs from standard golf clubs. Further, Gutierrezdiscloses a golf club wherein the user can add weights to the interiorof the shaft. Thus, Gutierrez fails to disclose a golf club swing aidhaving a weighted attachment secured on an end of the shaft,corresponding to the location of a club head on a traditional golf club.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,139 to Gagarin discloses a golf training devicehaving a shaft with a grip on which a tubular elastomeric member ispositioned. The tubular elastomeric member includes a first end attachedto the grip and a second end that is weighted. The tubular elastomericmember is unsupported by the shaft so it is free to flex and bend. Theweighted end is preferably shaped like a ball. Thus, Gagarin discloses agolf club swing aid, but does not disclose a device that has a rigid,elongated shaft. Instead, Gagarin discloses a flexible elastomeric shaftthat bends as the user swings the device. The Gagarin device does notallow a user to swing a golf club in the traditional manner due to theflexible shaft.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,040 to Umazume discloses a golf club that can beswung faster than conventional golf clubs, wherein the golf club has ashaft with an arcuate cross section on the face side of the club headand a square cross section on the back of the club head. Thus, Umazumedoes not disclose a golf club swing aid having a weighted attachment onan end thereof in place of a club head, and instead discloses a golfclub having a shaft with a cross section adapted to improve the swingspeed of the golf club.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,270 to Allen discloses golf clubs having a face walldesigned so that the modulus of elasticity thereof increases from a lowmodulus for low swing speeds to a high modulus for higher swing speeds.A second wall is parallel to and closely spaced from the face wall. Thegolf clubs disclosed by Allen are thus tailored to the swing speed ofthe golfer. Therefore, Allen does not disclose a golf club having acylindrical weighted attachment secured at the end of the shaft in thelocation a club head is positioned on conventional golf clubs. Instead,Allen discloses a specialized club head to be used for hitting golfballs.

U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2008/0188322 to Anderson etal. discloses a golf club having a hollow club head that is filled withpressurized gas. The interior of the golf club is coated with plasticmaterial, which serves as a sealant to prevent the pressurized gas fromescaping the interior of the club head. By pressurizing the interior ofthe club head, thinner face plates can be used to construct the clubhead. The club head includes a valve thereon to allow pressurized gas toenter the interior of the club head. Thus, Anderson et al. does notprovide a golf club having a weighted attachment on an end thereof,wherein the golf club swing aid is adapted to train a golfer to increasehis or her swing speed.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,969 to Cadorniga discloses a golf clubhaving a hollow metal head filled with a thermoplastic material that hasa dense outer skin adjacent to the surfaces of the cavity, and acellular central area. In this way, the golf club reduces theundesirable metallic sound made during hitting. Thus, Cadorniga does notdisclose a weighted golf club that helps a user increase his or herswing speed.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. While severaldevices in the prior art are directed towards improving a golfer's swingspeed, such devices accomplish this by improving the shape andconstruction of the golf club. Although the club is able to be swungfaster, such clubs do not teach a golfer to increase his or her swingspeed. Other devices disclose weighted training clubs havinginterchangeable weights. However, such devices arrange the weight alongthe shaft of the golf club, creating a substantially different weightdistribution than is found in conventional golf clubs. Thus, by trainingwith such clubs, the golfer may unknowingly alter his or her stroke asresult of the differing weight distribution of the training club.

In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted thatthe present invention substantially diverges in design elements from theprior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the artfor an improvement to existing golf club swing aid devices adapted toincrease a user's swing speed. In this regard the instant inventionsubstantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofgolf club swing aids now present in the prior art, the present inventionprovides a new golf club swing aid wherein the same can be utilized forproviding convenience for the user when learning to increase his or herswing speed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved golf club swing aid device that has all of the advantages ofthe prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf clubswing aid having a weighted attachment permanently secured on the end ofthe shaft.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club swingaid that helps a user to increase his or her swing speed by allowing theuser to practice swinging golf club swing aids having different weights.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf clubswing aid that maintains the weight distribution of conventional golfclubs, wherein the majority of the weight of the club is disposed on theend of the shaft opposite the handle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a golf clubswing aid that comprises a cylindrical weighted attachment on the endthereof that reduces drag, allowing a user to swing at an increasedspeed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club swingaid that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relativeeconomy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the shaft and a weighted attachmentof the golf club swing aid of the present invention as positioned forassembly.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the golf club swing aid of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the golf club swing aid. For the purposes of presenting abrief and clear description of the present invention, the preferredembodiment will be discussed as used for training a golfer to increasethe golfer's swing speed. The figures are intended for representativepurposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in anyrespect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the shaftand a weighted attachment of the golf club swing aid of the presentinvention as positioned for assembly. The golf club swing aid 12 of thepresent invention includes an elongated shaft 13 and a weightedattachment 18. The elongated shaft 13 has a first end 14 and a secondend 15. The elongated shaft 13 preferably comprises a cylindrical crosssection. In some embodiments of the preset invention, the elongatedshaft 13 comprises a constant cross section along the length thereof. Inalternate embodiments, the elongated shaft tapers from the first end 14towards the second end 15, such that the cross section of the elongatedshaft 13 is larger near the first end 14 than at the second end 15. Theelongated shaft 13 is composed of any suitable material conventionallyused to construct golf clubs, including but not limited to, steel andgraphite. Thus, the elongated shaft 13 is substantially rigid, but isable to flex slightly as a user swings the golf club swing aid 12.

The first end 14 of the elongated shaft comprises a handle thereon. Thehandle provides a comfortable, padded surface for the golfer tocomfortably grasp the golf club 13. The handle may include one or morefabric strips, such as leather, wrapped around the first end 14 of thegolf club 13. Alternatively, the handle may include a tubular sleeve ofrubber or other similar material that is secured about the first end 14of the golf club by an adhesive.

Thus, the elongated shaft 13 and handle disposed on the first end 14thereof, have the look and feel of a traditional golf club. In this way,the present invention provides a golfer with a golf club swing aid 12that resembles a traditional golf club. Thus, the golfer can practicehis or her grip, set-up, back-swing, and swing using the golf club swingaid 12 of the present invention.

The second end 15 of the golf club 13 comprises a weighted attachment 18thereon. The weighted attachment 18 comprises a substantiallycylindrical body and is composed of cast iron, steel, chrome, or anyother similar suitable material. The cylindrical body has a first end 16opposite a second end 17. The first end 16 comprises a bore that extendsat least partially into the interior of the cylindrical body. The boreis preferably centrally located on said cylindrical body and extendsalong the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. Thus, the cylindrical bodycomprises an interior volume 19 adapted to receive a portion of thesecond end 15 of the elongated shaft 13 therein. In the illustratedembodiment of the present invention, the bore extends only partiallythrough the weighted attachment 18. In other embodiments of the presentinvention, the bore extends from the first end 16 to the second end 17of the weighted attachment 18.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the second end 15 of thegolf club 13 comprises threading thereon and the weighted attachmentscomprise a threaded interior adapted to engage therewith. In this way, aweighted attachment 18 can be screwed onto the second end 15 of the golfclub 13 in order to secure the weighted attachment 18 thereto. In someembodiments of the present invention the weighted attachment 18 issecured to a second end 15 of the elongated shaft 13 by means of epoxyor another suitable adhesive. The epoxy or adhesive may be used incombination with a threaded securement means in order to securely attachthe weighted attachment 18 to the elongated shaft 13.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of a golfclub swing aid of the present invention. The weighted attachment 18serves to distribute the weight of the golf club swing aid on the secondend 15 of the elongated shaft 13, where a club head is located onconventional golf clubs. By placing the weight of the golf club swingaid 12 on the second end 15 of the elongated shaft 13, the golf clubswing aid 12 maintains the weight distribution of a conventional golfclub. In this way, the weighted attachment 18 allows a golfer togenerate club head speed while swinging in the same fashion as atraditional golf club.

The weighted attachment 18 may be provided in various weights to enablethe golfer to train using several golf club swing aids 12, each havingdifferent weights. A first weighted attachment 18 is substantially thesame weight as a conventional driver club head. Conventional driver clubheads are provided in a variety of weights and most driver club headsweigh roughly between 270 and 330 grams. However, no claim is made tothe exact weight of the weighted attachment 18 of the present invention.By providing a weighted attachment 18 having the same weight as aconventional driver, the golf club swing aid 12 of the present inventionhas the feel of a conventional driver and has the same weightdistribution. However, the cylindrical body of the weighted attachment18 provides a more aerodynamic shape than the shape of a conventionalclub head, reducing drag, and allowing the golfer to swing the golf clubswing aid 12 more quickly.

A second weighted attachment 18 is heavier than the first weightedattachment. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thesecond weighted attachment is twelve percent heavier than the firstweighted attachment. Thus, the second weighted attachment allows agolfer to practice swinging with a heavier golf club swing aid, suchthat when the golfer returns to using a conventional golf club, theconventional club will feel relatively light. The second weightedattachment may help a user to increase his or her strength and power. Ifthe second weighted attachment was substantially more than twelvepercent heavier than the first weighted attachment, the increased weightof the weighted attachment may hinder the golfer's performance. If thegolf club swing aid is too heavy, the golfer may have difficultyswinging the golf club swing aid while maintaining proper technique.

The third weighted attachment is lighter than the first weightedattachment. Preferably, the third weighted attachment is twelve percentlighter than the first weighted attachment. The third weightedattachment allows a golfer to swing the golf club swing aid veryrapidly. The light weight of the golf club swing aid allows a user toswing the club faster than he or she would be able to with a heavierclub. In this way, the golfer can become accustomed to swinging at ahigher rate of speed.

The golfer may practice his or her golf swing using a set of golf clubswing aids of the present invention in order to increase his or herswing speed. A first golf club swing aid comprises a weighted attachmentthat has a weight similar to a traditional driver. A second golf clubswing aid comprises a weighted attachment that is heavier than aconventional driver. And the third golf club comprises a weightedattachment that is lighter than a conventional driver.

The golfer may practice his or her golf swing using any of the golf clubswing aids with different weight attachments. The golfer can practice byswinging any of the golf club swing aids as quickly as possible whilemaintaining proper technique. The golf club swing aids comprise weightedattachments with cylindrical bodies so that the weighted attachments areaerodynamic and produce little drag, relative to a conventional clubhead. Further, the golfer may practice swinging the golf club swing aidsusing one or both hands. The golfer can practice his or her swing whileusing the golf club swing aid having the first weighted attachment inorder to practice swinging a golf club having the same weight and weightdistribution as a conventional driver, but having a more aerodynamicshape. This allows the golfer to swing more rapidly.

The golfer can use the golf club swing aid having the second weightedattachment in order to develop power and strength. The second weightedattachment is heavier, which will make the golfer's conventional driverfeel relatively light when the golfer returns to using the conventionaldriver. Further, the third weighted attachment that is lighter than thefirst weighted attachment, and allows a golfer to swing rapidly in orderto practice swinging the golf club swing aid at an increased pace. Inthis way, the golfer can practice using the various golf club swing aidsin order to increase his or her overall swing speed.

Thus, the present invention provides a golfer with a simple andcost-effective means for improving his or her golf swing speed. Thepresent invention provides an elongated shaft with a handle at one end,and a second end having weighted attachment permanently secured thereon.In this way, the present invention resembles a traditional golf club,but includes a weighted attachment rather than a traditional club head.The weighted attachment is cylindrical and comprises a bore therethroughsuch that the second end of the elongated shaft can be inserted therein.The weighted attachment is provided in three different weights, whereina first weighted attachment is the same weight as a traditional driver,the second weighted attachment is heavier than a traditional driver, andthe third weighted attachment is lighter than a traditional driver.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A golf club swing aid, comprising: an elongated shaft havinga first end opposite a second end; a handle disposed on said first endof said elongated shaft; a weighted attachment having a substantiallycylindrical body and comprising a bore at least partially therethrough;wherein said second end of said elongated shaft is secured within saidbore of said weighted attachment.
 2. The golf club swing aid of claim 1,wherein said handle comprises a tubular sleeve.
 3. The golf club swingaid of claim 1, wherein said bore extends from a first end of saidweighted attachment to a second end of said weighted attachment.
 4. Thegolf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein said second end of saidelongated shaft comprises threading thereon; wherein said bore of saidweighted attachment comprises threading therein such that said weightedattachment can be threadedly engaged with said second end of saidelongated shaft.
 5. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein saidweighted attachment is composed of steel.
 6. The golf club swing aid ofclaim 1, wherein said elongated shaft tapers from said first end towardssaid second end.
 7. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein saidelongated shaft has a circular cross section with a diameter that isuniform over its length.
 8. A method of increasing a golfer's swingspeed, comprising the steps of: utilizing one or more golf club swingaids each comprising an elongated shaft having a handle on a first endthereof, and having a weighted attachment on a second end thereof;wherein a first golf club swing aid is similar in weight to atraditional driver; wherein a second golf club swing aid is heavier thansaid first golf club swing aid; wherein a third golf club swing aid islighter than said first golf club swing aid; practicing a golf swingusing said first golf club swing aid; practicing a golf swing using saidsecond golf club swing aid; practicing a golf swing using said thirdgolf club swing aid.
 9. The method of increasing a golfer's swing speedof claim 8, wherein said second golf club swing aid is twelve percentheavier than said first golf club swing aid; and said third golf clubswing aid is twelve percent lighter than said first golf club swing aid.